Ancient DNA from cave sediments: a new horizon in the archaeology of Aboriginal Australia. Archaeological cave deposits at Devil's Lair and nearby sites in south-west Western Australia document 48,000 years of occupation by the first Australians. Using ancient DNA isolated from cave sediment the project will identify the diversity of plants and animals, thereby providing new insights into past environments and Aboriginal hunter-gatherer practices.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: De210100157
Funder
Australian Research Council
Summary
Landscape change and the archaeological record in the Willandra Lakes, NSW. The primary aim of this project is to systematically construct a high-resolution record of landscape and vegetation change within the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area over the past 50,000 years. Using state-of-the-art dating techniques and a multidisciplinary approach, this project will provide critical environmental context for the region's world-famous archaeological record, charting the environmental changes ....Landscape change and the archaeological record in the Willandra Lakes, NSW. The primary aim of this project is to systematically construct a high-resolution record of landscape and vegetation change within the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area over the past 50,000 years. Using state-of-the-art dating techniques and a multidisciplinary approach, this project will provide critical environmental context for the region's world-famous archaeological record, charting the environmental changes that occurred as NSW's largest inland lake system ran dry at ~15,000 years ago. Anticipated outcomes include a refined understanding of: the drivers, timing, and periodicity of lake desiccation; the influence these changes had on regions landforms and vegetation; and how this impacted the lives of people living here. Read moreRead less
Breaking Down Tradition: Women in male-dominated work, 1840-2000. Using historical analysis, this project aims to illuminate the endurance of sex-segregated work over more than 150 years. It plans to focus on particular occupations in Britain and Australia to identify the processes and agents of change and document the experiences of women. The project aims to trace the origins of workplace cultures which excluded women, and the circulation of ideas about occupations subsequently designated as ‘ ....Breaking Down Tradition: Women in male-dominated work, 1840-2000. Using historical analysis, this project aims to illuminate the endurance of sex-segregated work over more than 150 years. It plans to focus on particular occupations in Britain and Australia to identify the processes and agents of change and document the experiences of women. The project aims to trace the origins of workplace cultures which excluded women, and the circulation of ideas about occupations subsequently designated as ‘non-traditional’ for them. Expected outcomes are new insights into the history of women's experience of work and the factors that shape contemporary pay inequities, which may recast current understandings of gender in the workplace.Read moreRead less
An Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography. The project will research Indigenous biography through collaboration between Indigenous researchers and the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly underrepresented in the ADB. The project will work with Indigenous communities to produce the Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography, a supplementary volume of the ADB on 190 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for use by ....An Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography. The project will research Indigenous biography through collaboration between Indigenous researchers and the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly underrepresented in the ADB. The project will work with Indigenous communities to produce the Indigenous Australian Dictionary of Biography, a supplementary volume of the ADB on 190 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for use by scholars, students, and the public, and publish research articles that reframe Indigenous biographical practice. The project aims to foster reconciliation, national knowledge and pride in the ancient and modern contribution of Indigenous Australians to the nation, and to facilitate Indigenous participation at all levels of research and production.Read moreRead less
Shipwrecks of the Roaring Forties: a maritime archaeological reassessment of some of Australia's earliest shipwrecks. This project will evaluate new ways of investigating the history of Europeans in the Indian Ocean by using the latest technology to evaluate seven Western Australian shipwrecks excavated over 40 years ago. The project will work with emerging technologies to study these significant sites and collections.
Entangled Knowledges in the Robert Neill Collection. This project aims to reverse the trajectories of Menang Nyungar knowledge imbedded in a historical fish collection, returning language, stories, and fishing practices to the Menang community. By working in a cross-sector, collaborative and Indigenous-governed team our research will enrich and re-frame the understanding of this collection in the Museum, unearth Indigenous taxonomic practices, produce new histories of biocultural collections, an ....Entangled Knowledges in the Robert Neill Collection. This project aims to reverse the trajectories of Menang Nyungar knowledge imbedded in a historical fish collection, returning language, stories, and fishing practices to the Menang community. By working in a cross-sector, collaborative and Indigenous-governed team our research will enrich and re-frame the understanding of this collection in the Museum, unearth Indigenous taxonomic practices, produce new histories of biocultural collections, and develop the 'kaardtijin model' for participatory cross-cultural and cross-sector collaborations. Workshops on country will produce content for a digital reassembling of the collection to be used by museum partners, ensuring wide cross-sector and community engagement with project outcomes.Read moreRead less
Ochre archaeomicrobiology: a new tool for understanding Aboriginal exchange. This project aims to identify the origins and movements of Australian archaeological ochre through the development of a novel tool combining genomic and chemical analysis. The geographic distribution of Australian ochre is closely linked to Aboriginal creation stories, while its physical distribution by people is evidence of cultural cooperation. Using this new archaeomicrobiological technique, the project aims to answe ....Ochre archaeomicrobiology: a new tool for understanding Aboriginal exchange. This project aims to identify the origins and movements of Australian archaeological ochre through the development of a novel tool combining genomic and chemical analysis. The geographic distribution of Australian ochre is closely linked to Aboriginal creation stories, while its physical distribution by people is evidence of cultural cooperation. Using this new archaeomicrobiological technique, the project aims to answer significant questions about past human behaviour, in terms of trade, cultural interactions, territoriality and colonisation. The method also has the potential to benefit traditional owners by contributing to repatriation projects. The collaborative detailed recording, sampling and analysis of ochre sources on traditional lands will also assist Aboriginal communities to manage this important aspect of their cultural heritage.Read moreRead less
Facing new worlds: comparative histories of Australasia and North America. This project aims to develop comparative research into Indigenous and settler experiences in Australasia and North America in order to discover new connections or distinctions between the two regions for both public and academic audiences. The project will centre on a major exhibition with a focus on biography and life representation and will develop new methodologies for examining the shared or different histories of com ....Facing new worlds: comparative histories of Australasia and North America. This project aims to develop comparative research into Indigenous and settler experiences in Australasia and North America in order to discover new connections or distinctions between the two regions for both public and academic audiences. The project will centre on a major exhibition with a focus on biography and life representation and will develop new methodologies for examining the shared or different histories of complex indigenous-settler relations across "New World" sites. The expected outcomes of this project are to promote a deeper appreciation of Australia’s place in a Pacific world with as yet unexplored links to the Americas, and also to model new ways for art history and socio-cultural history to come together to explicate a shared, complicated past.Read moreRead less
Homelessness and the homeless people: an Australian history. This project aims to analyse understandings of and practices for homeless people in their shifting contexts to explore the changing profile and experience of people who were homeless, including the women, young people and Indigenous people. Australia will be used as a case study. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the long history of modern homelessness. The expected benefits will be both in public policy and in improving ....Homelessness and the homeless people: an Australian history. This project aims to analyse understandings of and practices for homeless people in their shifting contexts to explore the changing profile and experience of people who were homeless, including the women, young people and Indigenous people. Australia will be used as a case study. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the long history of modern homelessness. The expected benefits will be both in public policy and in improving the quality of life and workforce participation of people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101203
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,189.00
Summary
An Archaeology of Quality of Life During Victoria’s Gold Rush. Victoria's 19th century gold rush triggered a major social and economic transformation with far ranging consequences. This project aims to investigate how individuals responded and contributed to this transformation over their life course, and how this moulded current values around quality of life in Australia. The project also aims to develop a pioneering approach that will integrate historical and archaeological evidence on individ ....An Archaeology of Quality of Life During Victoria’s Gold Rush. Victoria's 19th century gold rush triggered a major social and economic transformation with far ranging consequences. This project aims to investigate how individuals responded and contributed to this transformation over their life course, and how this moulded current values around quality of life in Australia. The project also aims to develop a pioneering approach that will integrate historical and archaeological evidence on individual, site, neighbourhood, city and global levels in new ways. Fresh social histories of Melbourne and Bendigo will be generated, which reinforce national identity and have implications for understanding the impact of the current mining boom on individuals.Read moreRead less